Collar support



April 18, 1939. J w, STEELE COLLAR SUPPORT Filed Ma'rch 20, 1957 INVENTOR: J14. Stee/s.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 20,

Claims.

The present invention relates to collar supports for use by laundries as a temporary means for reinforcing the collars of shirts, and aims to provide an improved device of this type for 5 preserving the proper contour of the collars from the time they are laundered until they are delivered to the customer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an efficient and economical device for supporting or reinforcing the collar by means embracing either or both faces of the neckband of the collar and having means for holding the device in place by engagement with either or both the button and buttonhole of the neckband.

One economical form of the invention comprises a support having portions for appropriately reinforcing engagement with either or both faces of the collar neckband, and suitable tongues projecting from one of said reinforcing portions for retaining engagement with the button and buttonhole of the neckband.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a suitable form of embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the collar portion of a shirt fitted with a collar support constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improved collar supporting device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank stamped as required for producing the improved collar support; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 1 but with portions broken away to show the relation of one of the retaining elements to the button of the shirt neckband or collar.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the improved device is illustrated as constructed from suitable flexible material, such as a fair grade of cardboard, which is appropriately stamped to produce collar neckband engaging portions 5, 6, for engagement with the outer and inner faces, respectively, of a collar neckband l, the cuts or slit 8 dividing said portions 5 and B being interrupted to leave a flexible connection 9 at a suitable point corresponding to the meeting ends 5 of the collar ID. This double collar support con- 1937, Serial No. 132,036

struction is substantially that set forth in my Patent No. 1,879,918 of September 2'7, 1932.

In the present construction I provide the outer portion 5 of the support with a tongue l2 which is adapted for insertion through the buttonhole [4 of the collar neckband, and also with the tongue I5 having its end suitably notched or recessed as indicated at 16 for retaining engagement with the attaching threads or shank portion of the button I! corresponding to said buttonhole M (as clearly illustrated in Figure 4). Preferably, although not entirely essential to the invention, these tongues l2 and I5 are conveniently stamped from the body portion of the supporting member 5, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the use of the device, the operator at the laundry simply applies the support to the finished shirt by inserting the portion 5 between the folds of the collar Ill and against the outer face of the neckband 1, during which operation the tongue I2 is thrust through the buttonhole l4, and the tongue I5 is deflected beneath the buttonhole strip 20 and into engagement with the threads or shank portion of the button H- as shown in Figure 4, after which the outer portion 6 of the support is simply turned back into the collar for bracing engagement with the inner face of the neckband 'I,all as clearly represented in Figure 1.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a practical and efficient construction embodying desirable features of improvement over my previously patented device above referred to, and having all the collar reinforcing advantages of the construction, as covered by the aforesaid patent, that is, double supporting means for bracing engagement with both the outer and inner faces of the neckband portion of the collar; besides which the improved device includes eflicient retaining means for holding the device in proper position until removed by the customer. The construction is very simple and can be economically produced without requiring any extra material for including the retaining means, which is merely stamped from the stock already comprising the outer reinforcing member of the device, and which stamping operation and cutting of the blank for the support are all produced in one operation.

Moreover, the device is convenient for use, and with but very little experience can be applied into its proper position by the operative as she' completes the finishing operation on the garment.

While I have illustrated and described what I now conceive to comprise the preferred form of support constituting the present improved construction, modifications are of course possible within the spirit and scope of the invention; as, for example, the outer member 5 with the tongues formed as a part thereof may be employed independently of the inner member 6, and said member omitted entirely with a corresponding saving of material, in cases Where the laundry operator does not require the double form of the support; accordingly, I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:-

Collar bracing and stiffening means for collar attached shirts comprising a collar supporting member embracing the inner neck-engaging face of the neckfold of the collar, a collar stiffening member for insertion between the inner and outer folds of the collar and connected with said first member at the meeting ends of the collar, said second member having a tongue extending transversely of the strip and one end of said tongue being free and prcjectible through a buttonhole or" said neckband.

2. Collar bracing and stiffening means for collar attached shirts comprising a collar supporting member embracing the inner neck-engaging face of the neckfold of the collar, a collar stifiening member for insertion between the inner and outer folds of the collar and connected with said first member at the meeting ends of the collar, said second member having a tongue formed with a notch or recess for engagement with the shank or attaching threads of a button carried by said neckband.

3. Collar bracing and stiifening means for coliar attached shirts comprising a collar supporting member embracing the inner neck-engaging face of the neck-fold of the collar, a collar stifiening member for insertion between the inner and outer folds of the collar and connected with said first member at the meeting ends of the collar, said second member being provided with a pair of tongues, one extending transversely of said stiffening member and projecting through a buttonhole of the neckband and the other extending longitudinally of said stiffening member into en gagement with the shank or attaching threads of a button carried by said neckband.

4. A collar supporting device comprising an elongated strip of flexible material insertable into position for embracing a substantial portion of the neckband of a collar with the upper and lower edges of said strip conforming approximately to the upper and lower margins respectively of said neckband, a portion of the material of said strip between its upper and lower edges forming a pair of tongues, one extending transversely of said strip and projecting through a buttonhole of said neckband and the other extending longitudinally of said strip into engagement with the shank or attaching threads of a button carried by said neckband.

5. A collar supporting device comprising an elongated strip of flexible material insertable into position for embracing a substantial portion of the neckband of a collar with the upper and lower edges of said strip conforming approximately to the upper and lower margins respectively of said neckband, the material of said strip between its upper and lower edges being cut with merging slits forming a pair of tongues, one extending transversely of said strip and projecting through a buttonhole of said neckband and the other extending longitudinally of said strip into engagement with the shank or attaching threads of a button carried by said neckband.

JAMES W. STEELE. 

